mothers day gifts..with problems!!!

17 years ago

Here are two pictures of the gifts I made to give to my MIL and my M for mothers day. I am new at learning to solder so they are not done to my liking but I don;t think they are so bad that I shouldn't give them away..thats where you lovely ladies come in. Should I just keep them and chalk it up to a learning experience or assume that they are my moms so therefore will like everything I do no matter what the experience level is!!

Here are the pictures then I'll explain more...

The daffodil is my project I did second and it turned our ok, I'm kinda getting the hang of this soldering thing. I just can't figure out where or how to solder something to hang the panel up with.

My second one

{{!gwi}}

You can see by the red arrow I did my best at hanging a wire to hold the panel up. Well I made this one first and had it hanging on my wall while I continued to finish up the daffodil. I noticed that the hanger I soldered on was coming off along with the copper foil it was adhered to. So now I re soldered a piece of copper foil onto the glass but I just can't seem to figure out how to but a loop of some sort that will hold when it is hanging in a window. Should I be doing these only at joint areas???

I need help from you girls who have made things like this!!!! HEEELP Please!!!

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Comments (16)

d3bbi
17 years ago
yOUR FLOWERS ARE BEAUTIFUL! YES, put your loops in solder joints! I learned this too the hard way. I bought round rings at my stained glass store just for this but you can make your own.

Soldering does take practice and I am no expert because I have been doing this about a year. But I know it gets better and better. Inland has a good little booklet on their website on how to solder. I put the link below.

I'd give it to them with the badge of honor that these are your first stained glass pieces of art.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Solder
texaswild
17 years ago
CHICKEE: They are so pretty I didn't focus on the mistakes. You give those to you mommas and be PROUD. Remember when you brought things home from school for momma. She'll love them just as much as she did those childhood things. They w/cheer the hearts of their recipients - it's the love they symbolize, beginner efforts and all. LOVELY.
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Don't know if I can really tell you what to do--that's an individual choice. However, as someone who is the caregiver for 2 elderly people, there are a few comments I'd like to make here. When folks reach that age, their world becomes very small. It's not even truly selfishness--they don't realize that they aren't thinking about anyone else. From what I've seen of my friends and relatives, it's an almost universal problem that the older folks don't see anyone else's problems but their own (Monday, I got in, looked at the caller ID, saw my 83 year old aunt had called. Called her--said "Hello"; she said, "Where have you been, I called you 3 times"; me--"at the ER, I was really sick"; Her, "I want you to take me to the dr's tomorrow..." It didn't even register with her that I'd been in the hospital). You, your wife and your SIL need to realize that whatever MIL's condition is today--it's probably as good as it's ever going to be. Whatever her needs are now, they're going to become greater with time. Gradually, you will need to do more and more for her--and there's no way around that, unless you want to be cold, heartless and toss her out in the street. As regards to her staying in her home--at that age, people are really afraid of change. They don't want to leave their familiar surroundings, the ones where their memories reside. Sometimes that's not the best for them. It does seem that it's time for the family to consider what's best for mom. If she's living that far from everyone, who's keeping an eye on her health? who's going with her to her dr's appts? who's double-checking to see that she's handling her finances appropriately? Not saying it's time to move her into a nursing home down the street from you, but it might be getting near the time when you have to encourage her to move to a local senior apt (check into the waiting lists on those, though, they're often years long. Never hurts to get one's name on early, even if they're not yet ready to move in). One thing I've got a little question about--you say MIL won't drive far, for fear of getting lost? Has she always been this way? or is this something new? If it's a new wrinkle, then it's a huge red flag. Most older folks who are beginning to lose their abilities (through Alzhemer's or other types of dementia, or strokes, etc) cover that up. And any little admission they make like that is generally a tip-of-the-iceberg kind of thing. It means they've been having much greater problems, but that's all they'll admit to. If this were my mother or MIL, I'd be quite concerned and want to keep an eye on her--just to make sure things are okay. Look, I know this is annoying for you. But look at it this way. One day you're going to be old. You may not be living near your children. You will definitely want to see them at the holidays--and other times of the year. Just how would you feel if the kids told you you were just too much trouble for them? or if your SIL told you he wished you were dead (and even if it's not said out loud, make no mistake, MIL KNOWS how you feel). Sorry, while I can understand the family problem, and know there are many ways to solve it or compromise, I'm having a little problem with your "I almost wish she would die" attitude. That's lacks a bit of humanity, don't you think?
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bamasusanna
17 years ago
They're really very pretty. Do not be hesitant to give them for gifts, you put your heart in it!
For your hanging loops, always put them in a joint. In the tulips, you would have to put 2 loops since there is not a center seam. I would put them outside the two top tulips. The copper foil itself is not strong enough to hold the weight of the panel once its hanging.
I make my own loops out of copper or brass wire. I leave a twisted tail at the base to solder into the joint.
Keep on trying. You will get better and better at it!
squirrellycanadian
17 years ago
I think you did a great job! When I first started soldering it was hard, I tried to be so perfect. Next time I was in a glass shop I took a good look at the work on display and realized their work wasn't perfect either! I'm sure your Mom would be proud to have them, I think they are lovely!
nicethyme
17 years ago
Chickee, I agree with everyone else. They look wonderful and you should definately give them as gifts proudly.
Calamity_J
17 years ago
Those are great!!! Just put your hanging rings on the seam like everyone else said, and I make my own rings by wrapping the wire around a pencil a few times till I have some rings to snip. I have made larger rings and made them individually using the same method and twisting the thing to have a tail like Susanna said, so it would go down the seam for more support, ahhh, some stained glass eye candy!!! Love it! I love it as much (almost) as much as mosaicing! Just not as instant!heh heh!
chickeemama
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the info..I will definately put it in the joint. In the back of my brain I think I new better about using the joints..guess I had to learn the hard way!!! I have tried to wrap wire but am not very good at it yet (ya I know, I'll get better!!!)

d3bbi- thank you for the link, I'll take a gander at it!!

calamity- I think your right about loving to do it!!I do get frustrated with it though cause it like you say not as instant!!

everyone- thank you again for the compliments...I will give them..I just gotta put them rings on there.

How in the world do you guys hold the iron, the wire, the loop and the solder all at the same time??????????????????
bamasusanna
17 years ago
Warning!! Do not try to hold the loop with your fingers! Metal transfers heat RAPIDLY. I hold the loop in place with needle nose pliers, flux over the loop and your joint, pick up a dab of solder with your iron and place it on the loop. You don't have to hold the solder at all!
Calamity_J
17 years ago
Actually now that you mention it, it is fairly tricky...and I learned the hard way to use needle nose pliers!LOL!!!
crackpotannie
17 years ago
They are really good Chickee,but being new to glass too I know how you feel we want perfection.But a child is perfect to their moms so they will love your gift..Annie
joyy
17 years ago
i think they're wonderful and anyone would be thrilled to get those as gifts, chickeemama. the colours are beautiful and they look like they were a lot of work!
Shades_of_idaho
17 years ago
Problems?? What problems?? I think both are just as pretty as can be and do not see solder problems at all. I would think you could fix the loop problem as others have directed you and then no hanging problems either. They are certainly worth the time to straighten them out and your Moms will just love them!!! Lucky Moms!!!

Chris
chickeemama
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you shades and annie, I will fix the loop as directed and give them as gifts. I know they will like them,they both like window stuff and they also no that I am still new to the soldering end of it and like my DMIL said once, looks good to me, I don't know how to do it and don't care to try so I'm not one to judge something that pretty!!
haziemoon
17 years ago
Great gifts Chickee!
They are really pretty!
Sorry, I wasn't around the last few days, to give you props on your gifts! You have to give them!!! like you said...
They don't know how to do it! That's the idea I'm taking with me on mine too now! Thanks!

Hazie
diamondjennie
17 years ago
Those are wonderful for a first project, or a pretty advanced one for that matter! Your cutting and soldering is great! My first project ended up being really long, and I used copper foil, but lead came on the outside, after awhile, the whole thing buckled in half, glass shattered, and it was a lovely mess! Then I learned to use zinc for the outside if your sides are straight! I have another one that needs repair because the hanging rings weren't strong enough. You do live and learn, thank goodness for all the great experience you gain here, free for the asking!!! They will love their Mother's Day gifts! Jennie
suz_craft
17 years ago
These are really nice! If I were you I would be proud to give them to the mom's in your life. Suz

mothers day gifts..with problems!!!

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